Some of the Mr Binman Strikers

On March 25th workers at Mr. Binman’s Carrick-on-Suir depot in Tipperary were called into a general meeting. The privatized bin company wanted pay cuts of 10% across the board from the workers. The following day workers were called one by one into management offices and told that for them, 10% would not be enough. Wage cuts of 20, 30, 40 or even 49% were demanded.

In response, the workers organized a meeting of their own. They quickly learned that, not only were there different pay cuts for different workers – there was also different pay rates, different work hours and different conditions. They decided to fight these pay cuts, and get unionized, joining SIPTU. The company refused to recognize the union, or negotiate with them, and strike notice was served.

Niall with Garda Hugh Egan MY101

Shell to Sea campaigners Maura Harrington and Niall Harnett were sentenced to four and eight months in jail respectively at Bellmulet district court today. Both protesters have been convicted for taking action as part of a campaign of peaceful civil disobedience against the ill-fated Corrib Gas Project. Maura was given her four month sentence under Section 8 of the Public Order Act; 'failing to comply with the directions of a Garda'. The sentence was handed down in relation to an incident that occurred duing a protest at Shell's 'landfall' compound gate on 30th August 2008. Niall was sentenced to eight months in relation to two separate incidents. He was given a four month sentence under Section 8 of the Public order act, and another four months under Section 2, for the supposed assault of a Garda.

Related Links from Indymedia.ie:
A weekend in Erris at the national Shell to Sea meeting | Shell's Lackey's in the Media Out in Force Again | Message to an Bord Snip Nua. Resolve the Recession. Tax Shell! | Reports that Pat the Chief's boat was sunk last night | Massacre of Indigineous Amazonians in Peru - 25 dead and counting | The Pirates of Broadhaven Defeat Shell’s Armada | Prison van carrying Maura into Montjoy blockaded for 20 minutes by Dublin S2S | Shell security attack Willie Corduff after illegal Glengad compound dismantled | Scuffles At Mountjoy As Maura Harrington Is Jailed |

Related Links outside of Indymedia.ie
The website of Shell-to-Sea - CorribSOS.com
Keep the pressure up: Contact ALL TDs, Senators, and MEPs in Ireland and let them know how you feel about Shell in Rossport - Contact.ie

Element Six - Get ready for more of the same

Element Six/De Beers’ plan to shut their Shannon plant, sacking 370 workers, and move production elsewhere is a disgusting stab in the back of the workers whose hard work has made them billions in profits over the years.

After huge sacrifices, including working part time on the promise that this would save jobs, the company now want to pack up and jump ship, with only a pittance of a redundancy. The entire cost of the redundancy scheme to the company is only €6.6m, about one week’s turnover for the factory, according to the Irish Independent!

Note: This article was written before managment started discussing an "alternative" proposal saving "some" jobs, probably only a stay of execution, and demaningd much reduced wages, terms and conditions. Therefore, the need for a fight still very much stands

Related Links:
Socialist Party of Ireland | Element Six's Contact Details | Element Six Job Massacre a Disgusting Stab in the Back of Workers | Cian Prenderville's Indymedia.ie Articles | Workers' Issues on Indymedia.ie